Being a spectator at a running race isn't just about watching and cheering anymore. It's also about snapping pics of your pals, kids, or significant others so they can relive the glory (and share it on social media) once they've crossed the finish line.

Yes, shooting a sporting event with an iPhone or other point-and-shoot camera can feel like "doing brain surgery with a hacksaw," said Michael Skelps, owner of Capstone Photography in Middlefield, Connecticut. But smartphones have come a long way in recent years, he added, and there are plenty of ways to improve your shutter skills and compose better pictures without upgrading your equipment.

"There is no reason you can’t take compelling photos with a smartphone," said Brooklyn-based photographer and ultramarathoner Zandy Mangold. You just need to follow a few simple rules. These tips from the pros will help.

Get their attentionCandid photos are great—but during a race, they're not always the most attractive portrayals of participants. To make sure your runner has a proper heads-up, let him or her know ahead of time where you plan to stand, Skelps said.

Not only does this give runners a chance to pose for the camera (if they so desire), but it can also remind them to veer toward your side of the road on courses that are particularly dense with people.

Change your positionMost people shoot at eye level, said Mangold, but that's not often the best choice. "Get low for dramatic effect and heroic angles," he said. "Or get higher for a more compelling perspective," if there's an easy (and safe) way to elevate yourself so you're shooting down at the runners.

Taking a knee or raising your phone in the air can also help you avoid messiness in the background or foreground—think chain-linked fences or crowds of people—said Getty Images photographer Patrick Smith, who recently shot the IAAF World Championships in Beijing. For track events there's an added bonus: "The great thing about athletics is the track is rhythmic and symmetrical, he said. "If you shoot from above, it can give you clean lines and appeasing visuals."

Look for the light"Due to a smartphone camera's limitations, you'll have the best chance to freeze the action of a fast-moving subject if it's well lit," Mangold said. If you have your choice of either side of the course, position yourself so the sun is behind you and it's shining on the runners' faces.

Good light is the single most important way to improve the quality of your photos, agreed Skelps. And while it may be tempting to seek out shady areas for spectating, be sure you're not shooting runners in the shadows. "You can be in the shade, but make sure they're in the light, preferably running toward it."

Or ... embrace the siloOf course, sometimes you just can't get good light—if you can only get to one side of the course and the runners are backlit by the sun behind them, for example. In this case, "Don’t be afraid to silhouette," Mangold said. Smartphone cameras don’t have strong flashes, he explains; they'll likely just produce washed-out images. Instead, create a strong visual form by capturing the runner's dark outline against a bright background.

"If you catch the stride at the right moment, when the legs are separated, the arms are swinging and maybe hair is blowing, then you may have enough clues to actually ID the runner, without much detail," he said. It helps to have a clear background for this trick to work well, so try shooting from a low angle toward the sky.

Focus your shotA smartphone camera’s settings are mostly automatic—but on most phones, you can focus in on a subject by tapping its image on the screen, said Skelps. This not only helps you get a sharper image, but also it adjusts the brightness so your subject is better lit. (On phones with iOS 8, you can slide your finger up and down to manually adjust brightness once you've focused in on part of the picture; you can even lock the exposure on one spot so you're ready when your runner appears.)

"Try this on a stationary target first—someone with the sun at their back so you get used to focusing and adjusting the brightness," Skelps said. "Then, while you're waiting for your runner, practice on other athletes." You should also anticipate the delay your phone may have in taking the picture, known as shutter lag. "Practice pressing the shutter button a half-second before you are ready for the picture," he suggested.

Get close to your subject"People often aren't as patient as they should be to get a good shot," Skelps said. "They start clicking as soon as they see their runner way down the road." Instead, wait until your runner fills up at least two-thirds of the height of the camera screen. "You'll get more detail that way, as opposed to an indistinguishable blob in the middle of a distracting background."

Try to avoid centering your subject, said Mangold, which creates boring, static images. Follow the rule of thirds—place your subject to the left or right of center—to make the photo more dynamic and exciting.

Take more photos"It's digital, so shoot lots of photos and erase the ones you don't want," Mangold said. (But make sure you have plenty of storage on your phone, and a fully charged battery, before you leave the house. You don't want to miss out on key moments while deleting photos midrace!)

When your runner speeds by, use the burst mode—available on iPhone 5S and newer models—to capture 10 photos a second. To activate this feature, simply press and hold the shutter button; you can choose your favorites later.

Try panningUsually, it's a mistake not to hold your camera as still as possible. But if you want to capture a fast-moving subject, "panning" as he or she passes by can create an interesting photo that really portrays speed and motion. (Think sharp subject on a blurry background.)

"Shoot horizontally and follow the action rather than standing still," said Smith. "This will help freeze the action, especially in lower-light situations."

Take prerace and postrace shotsIf you can be with your runner at the starting line or just past the finish, these are also great opportunities for candid pics. Action shots are great, Smith said, but often you can get some of your best photos immediately before or after a race.

"Look for emotion," he said. "The reactions are often the most telling images—the jubilation or dejection, or even a simple moment the athlete has to themselves before the sound of the gun."

Don't get in the wayIt should go without saying, but the pros are adamant on this point: "Be careful not to interfere with the athletes," Smith said. This is especially true at or around the finish line, where crowds are packed tightly and things can get chaotic.

"The finish line can get clogged with many runners," Skelps said. "Runners can slow, stop, or even collapse at the finish line. If you're not authorized to be there, keep it clear—for the safety of the athletes and the staff."

Then again, you could just leave it to the prosYou can cheer and take pictures at the same time, Mangold said, but remember to keep your eye on the phone's screen and keep the camera as still as possible. Of course, if you really want to do either one well, you may have to make a choice.

"Sometimes it's best to enjoy the event and put your phone away," Skelps said. And that may not be such a bad thing, he added. Thanks to shifting consumer expectations, more than 1,000 races around the country have begun providing professional race photos for free.

"Check with the race director to see if this service is offered,” Skelps said. “Then you can relax knowing that the professionals are hard at work taking care of the photography.”